Living In China Info

For first-time visitors China is a land of wonder, of contrasts and of unique experiences. If, like me, you are a westerner, your first visit to China will be a memorable one - a like all our memories theres usually good and bad mixed together!

Having lived here in mainland China for the past 4 years and after traveling from the northern reaches of Heilongjiang to the sweltering southern shores of Hong Kong and Macau, I'd like to share some of my experiences here, hopefully to assist the new traveler in having some realistic expectations for their Chinese adventure.

Culture shock is a good place to start! For example:

Follow up:

The 4 S's: Spitting, Smoking, Staring and Slurping - get used to them! These are probably the most frequently voiced complaints from visitors about what they did not like in China.

Spitting: On the footpath, on the bus or train, in a restaurant or a shop and in the halls and classrooms of schools. Men and women do this equally and it is considered very normal behavior (although, in post-Olympic Beijing they are making noises about changing the public attitude). It may make you sick but you need to know it will happen and be prepared. There is no stopping it.

The Chinese generally make a habit of changing from outdoor shoes to indoor slippers when entering a home. I suddenly realized why this is such a common practice, after I'd been here for a while, and came to a shuddering realization of what I had been walking in all day! Changing shoes is not just a "quaint Eastern ritual" - there's a good reason for it.

Smoking: Smoking is common in most places. There are no laws about smoking in restaurants, shops or public places like you may be used to. People will happily "light up" on a crowded bus, at the restaurant table while they are eating or as they are talking to you in almost any situation. In many offices, whether the occupant smokes or not, they will have a packet of cigarettes and an ashtray (if no ashtray, people just use the floor) to offer to guests. Men especially will be offered a cigarette in social or business situations and it can be difficult to say no politely. There does not seem to be the same health concerns here concerning smoking. Be prepared and decide how you will handle these situations before they arise.

It is generally pointless to complain. You will watch with a mixture of awe and irritation as people smoke in front of "No Smoking" signs. The most effective thing to do is move to another area away from smokers or leave and go somewhere else. Cigarette prices range from 2.5RMB to over 100RMB for locally produced brands. Imported brands are substantially more expensive than the local brands and fake cigarettes are a big business. The more expensive the brand you smoke or offer to your guests, the better impression you will make!

There are a few restaurants where smoking is prohibited and enforced, McDonalds, KFC and Pizza Hut for example, and there is a slow but growing awareness of the hazards of smoking.

Staring: You will be stared at! Get ready for it. Especially if you are away from larger cities foreigners are still very much a novelty. People will quite openly stop and stare. Deal with it as best you can. Smile and wave or ignore it, it will happen all the time.

Most of us from western countries take a mixed population group for granted, after all, we're just about all immigrants within the last few generations.

This really is not the case in mainland China. Most population groups don't move very much (with some exceptions, notably Beijing and the migrant-labor hungry Guangdong province) and ethnic groups tend to stay together in traditional areas.

For a local Chinese to see a Laowai walking down the street can be an exciting and captivating experience.

Slurping: Soup, a bowl of noodles, a cup of tea, whatever... Slurping loud and proud will resound about you on a regular basis. Again, nothing can be done about it, just be prepared for it as it is considered very normal behavior.

NOTE: These topics are mentioned for your general information and to help you prepare for the cultural differences you will experience in China as a visitor. No judgments, criticisms or approvals are implied by us.